Thursday, 4 May 2017

The US Department of Defence (DoD), and components
of the Armed Forces, routinely produce “doctrinal” material to aid in the efficient
and lawful running of the US military. Such doctrine falls into several
categories, including, but not limited to, “Regulations”, “Instructions”,
“Manuals”, “Directives” and “Guidelines”. Historically, the US military handled
the reporting and investigation of “UFOs”, or “unidentified flying objects”,
through such published doctrine, much of which has been declassified and
released to the public. When the United States Air Force (USAF) terminated its
long running UFO study program, Project Blue Book, on the 17th of
December, 1969, it was commonly accepted that no government agency, including
within the military, would further accept or investigate UFO reports. Thus, one
would expect that no formal publications dealing with UFOs would be promulgated
beyond 1970. We know, of course, that this is not true. Numerous examples of classified
military doctrine that deal with UFOs have come to light, as I have highlighted
in previous blog posts. On the 10th of April, 2001, the
Assistant Secretary of Defence for Public Affairs (ASD-PA) promulgated a DoD
Instruction titled “DoD Instruction
5040.6, Life-Cycle Management of DoD Visual Information (VI)”. Amended on
the 21st of October, 2002, and totalling twenty-seven pages, it
details the “life-cycle” of DoD “visual information” (VI), which includes “…still
photographs, digital still images, motion pictures, analog and digital video
recordings…”. The Instruction references, and works in conjunction with, a DoD
Manual titled “DoD Manual 5040.6-M-1, Decision
Logic Table Instructions For Recording And Handling Visual Information
Material” (DoD Manual 5040.6-M-1). This Manual was also published by ASD-PA, and issued on the 21st of October, 2002. On page two, the “Forward” section
reads, in part: “This
Manual is issued under the authority of DoD Instruction 5040.6, ‘Life Cycle
Management of DoD Visual Information,’ April 10, 2001 (reference (a)). It
contains guidelines for both the recording of visual information (VI) in the
field by camera operators and the accessioning of such VI as VI records into a
records center, such as the Defense Visual Information Center (DVIC)... ...The
Manual applies to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Military
Departments, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Combatant Commands,
the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense
Agencies, the DoD Field Agencies and all other organisational entities within
the Department of Defense (hereafter referred to collectively as ‘the DoD Components’).”

Put simply, “DoD Manual 5040.6-M-1, Decision Logic Table Instructions For Recording
And Handling Visual Information Material” describes how photographs and moving
images, which have been obtained by members of the US Armed Forces, must be captured,
transmitted and stored. A “Decision Logic Table” (DLT) is laid out throughout
the Manual, and cover myriad events and scenarios which may present to military
personnel, and other members of the DoD. Within the DLT, individual tables categorize
specific scenes or situations, and provide disposition instructions, including
priority and importance, for imagery contained in for each category. Dozens of
topics, from “POST-BATTLE ACTIVITIES IMAGERY” to “NATURAL TERRAIN AND SITE IMAGERY”,
are covered.

Curiously, one of the topics listed is
UFO’s and other unidentifiable aerial phenomena.

Section 21 of Chapter 5, on Page 53, of
the Manual is titled “UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT (UFO) AND OTHER AERIAL PHENOMENA
IMAGERY”.Beneath this bold heading,
it is stated:

“The
following table concerns imagery that records UFOs and other aerial phenomena not
obviously identifiable as conventional aircraft or missiles. The table also
lists the priority assigned to each category of imagery and provides relevant
handling instructions.”

The table is titled “UFO and Other Aerial
Phenomena Imagery” and contains just two columns. The left-hand side column is
headed “Subject Description”, and the right-hand column is headed
“Instructions”. Listed, in the left-hand column are two categories of aerial
oddities that can be photographed or filmed. They are:

The right-hand column, which contains the
“priority” of importance for such imagery, as well as handling instructions,
states:

“NORMAL.
Provide copies or dubs as needed to local and major commands. Handle
camera-recorded imagery according to Appendix 2.”

The relevant page is imaged below.

Thus it is established, with great
clarity, that the DoD require UFO imagery from their personnel. The fact that
not one, but two, sub-categories of
“Unidentified Flying Objects” are listed is significant. These sub-categories,
namely “Aerial flying objects not obviously identifiable as conventional
aircraft” and “Aerial phenomena (including moving lights and similar
phenomena)”, cover virtually every example of unusual aerial activity ever
reported. For decades, UFO encounters have been officially reported by military
personnel. As we know, such reports, which could include photographic imagery,
have been submitted to desks assigned to handling and investigating such
intelligence. It seems little has changed. For example, “Air Force Regulation 200-2, Intelligence, Unidentified Flying Objects
Reporting” (AFR-200-2), promulgated by the Secretary of the USAF on the 26th
of August, 1953, defines a UFO as:

“…any
airborne object which by performance, aerodynamic chrematistics, or usual
features does not conform to any presently known aircraft or missile type, or
which cannot be positivity identified as a familiar object.”

AFR 200-2 also asked for, wherever
applicable, photographic evidence:

“…All
original film, including, whenever possible, both prints and negatives, will be
titled or otherwise properly identified as to place, time, and date of the
incident to which they pertain…”

Another example of USAF doctrine which
clearly defines UFO’s is “Air Force
Regulation 80-17, Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO)” (AFR 80-17).
Promulgated on the 19th of September 1966 by the Secretary of the
USAF, “AFR 80-17” placed UFO reporting under the Directorate
of Science and Technology’s (AFRST) Science Division (AFRSTA). AFRST was within
the USAF’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Research and Development. On the 8th of
November, 1966, “AFR 80-17” was amended as “AFR 80-17A”, and reflected the fact
that the University of Colorado’s “UFO Study” was underway. This was the final
example of UFO-specific reporting doctrine that the USAF generally acknowledged.
On Page 1 of “AFR 80-17A”, in “Section A – General Provisions”, an “Explanation
of Terms” is given:

“1.
Explanation of Terms. To insure proper and uniform usage of terms in UFO
investigations, reports and analyses, an explanation of common terms follows:

a.
Unidentified Flying Objects. Any aerial phenomenon or object which is
unknown or appears
out of the ordinary to the observer.

Indeed, the definitions offered in “AFR
80-17A” are very clear. Of course, reporting requirements for UFO’s should have
ended in December, 1969, when the Secretary of the USAF, Dr. Robert C. Seamans
Jr, famously announced that “…the continuation of
Project Blue Book cannot be justified… …on the grounds of national security…”
and that “...no
UFO reported, investigated and evaluated by the Air Force was ever an
indication of threat to our national security.”.

Decades later, however, we see “DoD Manual 5040.6-M-1, Decision Logic Table
Instructions For Recording And Handling Visual Information Material” asking
for photographic and moving imagery of UFO’s. There is virtually no difference
between the UFO definitions of the 1950’s and 1960’s with those laid out in
2002. Again, “DoD Manual 5040.6-M-1” lists “aerial flying objects not obviously
identifiable as conventional aircraft” and “aerial phenomena (including moving
lights and similar phenomena)” as being unique. Photographs or footage of such
aerial activity is to be provided “as needed to local and major commands”. And
all this comes under the section title of “UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT (UFO) AND
OTHER AERIAL PHENOMENA IMAGERY”.

It could easily be argued that the term
“Unidentified Flying Object”, or its oft used acronym “UFO”, is being utilised to
merely cover any unexpected aerial activity which would be of obvious interest
to the military. Such activity would presumably include cruise missiles, high
performance unmanned aerial vehicles and re-entering space debris. This,
however, is not the point. Firstly, considering the US governments stance on
the UFO controversy the US military shouldn’t even be using the term “UFO”. Secondly, one would presume that is visual
imagery of a “UFO” was taken by Armed Forces personnel, there would be an
accompanying report, or at least some
paperwork regarding the time and date of the event, exact location, and a
general overview of the objects motions. This, by definition, would be a “UFO
report”. The US military do not, apparently, handle UFO reports anymore.
Likewise, the US military are at the forefront of national security, yet are
being instructed to image and distribute imagery of UFOs. UFO’s and national
security are not supposed to be an issue. Thirdly, it is notable that “Aerial
phenomena (including moving lights and similar phenomena)” are listed alongside
more traditional UFO activity. The inclusion of this sub-category most
certainly moves well away from unexpected missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles,
balloons, etc. There is no question whatsoever that the DoD is covering all
bases, and asking their forces to image what some call “Unidentified Aerial
Phenomena” (UAP). Finally, it may be important to note that the UFO-imagery
table in “DoD Manual 5040.6-M-1” is presented in Chapter 5. The title of
Chapter 5 is “IMAGERY RECORDING ROUTINE PEACETIME EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES UNRELATED
TO EITHER WAR, OVERSEAS COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT, OR MAJOR PEACETIME OPERATIONS”.
This would strongly indicate that UFO’s and unidentifiable phenomena are
expected in locations where combat aircraft, missiles, drones and the “fog of
war” are non-existent.

As stated, the UFO table in “DoD Manual
5040.6-M-1” requests that UFO imagery be sent “…as needed to local and major
commands…”. Also stated is that such imagery be handled as per Appendix 2,
which can be found on Page 55. Appendix 2, carrying the title “MEDIA HANDLING
INSTRUCTIONS FOR OTHER SUBJECTS”, is presented as a table containing sub-categories
of visual imagery media types with instructions on how to handle each. Original
video recordings, for example, are to be sent “…to the CAP as soon as
reasonably possible…”.

Photographic
“still” film images are to be processed by first making “…digital copies of
selected camera original negatives and color transparencies…” and then forwarding
these copies “…to the CAP immediately for possible accessioning.” Originals are
“…sent to to the DVIC unless applicable Service or DoD Agency instructions
direct that they be sent to the CAP.”. “CAP” stands for “Component Accessioning
Point”, which is defined as “A central or designated point in the DoD
Components for the receipt, screening, evaluation, and selection of imagery for
accessioning into the central DoD VI records center.”. “DVIC” stands for
“Defence Visual Information Center” and is “…responsible for the receipt,
storage, preservation, reference service, life-cycle management, reproduction,
and disposition of VI records…”. In October, 2011, the functions of the DVIC
were absorbed into the Defense Imagery Management Operations Center (DIMOC).

As I have highlighted, “DoD Manual 5040.6-M-1” was
promulgated by the Assistant Secretary of Defence for Public Affairs (ASD-PA)
in October, 2002. ASD-PA is subordinate to the Office of the Secretary of
Defence and the Joint Staff (OSD/JS). On the 7th of June, 2016, I
wrote to OSD/JS to discover precisely which “local and major commands” would be
the recipients of UFO imagery. In my letter, I included ample referencing of
“DoD Manual 5040.6-M-1”, so there was no chance of a fob off. On the 5th
of July, 2016, Stephanie L. Carr, the Chief of the Office of Freedom of
Information for the OSD/JS, replied to my enquiry stating that:

“The
military departments or defense agencies that are applicable to your enquiry
would be the military services and force commands. We have enclosed listings
that identify the FOIA contacts at these organizations for your use.”

Attached to Stephanie L. Carr’s letter
were the contact details of the FOIA desks of the US Military Services and
Force Commands. The Military Services are merely the four branches of the US
Armed Forces. These are simply the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. The
Force Commands, also known as Unified Combatant Commands (UCC), are joint
military commands comprising of various military departments, major commands
and component commands, and are organised on either a geographic or functional
basis. Listed as being applicable to my enquiry were eight of nine of the
UCC’s. These were Africa Command, Central Command, European Command, Northern
Command, Pacific Command, Special Operations Command, Southern Command and
Strategic Command. Not listed was Transport Command. Thus far, I have not
submitted FOI requests to any of the above-mentioned Commands, nor DIMOC. Copies
of any possible UFO or unusual phenomena imagery, or the accompanying paperwork,
would be either still held by these entities, or, will have been recently
destroyed, as per various records destruction schedules. Whatever the
situation, there is a chance that focused FOI request action will yield results.

In sum, “DoD Manual 5040.6-M-1, Decision Logic Table Instructions For Recording
And Handling Visual Information Material” makes detailed and specific allowances
for the imaging of “Aerial flying objects not obviously identifiable as
conventional aircraft” and “Aerial phenomena”, and, even comes with the designation
of “Unidentified Flying Objects”. This is yet another example of US military
doctrine that specifically treats “UFOs”
as distinct from other aerial platforms, despite the assurances from the US
military that UFOs are not within their jurisdiction. Simply, the term “UFO” shouldn’t
even be utilised.